The Office of the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations has advised religious leaders to exercise caution and restraint when making prophecies concerning high-profile political figures.
The advisory follows the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, which claimed eight lives, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong. Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah also perished in the accident.
The office further urged religious leaders to formally submit any prophecy or spiritual insight of national significance for urgent review.
Speaking to Citi News on Monday, August 11, Presidential Envoy Elvis Afriyie Ankrah explained that the move seeks to safeguard the nation, minimise public controversy, and prevent incidents where unscrupulous individuals could exploit such revelations for malicious purposes.
“If you say that a military aircraft, a presidential jet, is going to crash, it is a matter of national security. Let’s say somebody says he has seen a vision that armed robbers are going to attack a minister of state. It may well be true, but that same prophecy can create an avenue for a miscreant to carry out the attack.
“Even if it began as a prophecy, it could still open the door for something terrible to happen,” Mr. Afriyie Ankrah cautioned.
His remarks come amid the widespread circulation of prophecies on social media following the August 6 tragedy, which has plunged the nation into mourning. Ghanaians paid their final respects to Dr. Murtala Muhammed and Muniru Mohammed on Sunday, August 10.
A state funeral for all eight victims is scheduled for Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square, where their service and sacrifice will be honoured.
